Everything Has a Price

Prologue

A lush carpet of greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, sprinkled with iridescent dewdrops caught in the blades of grass. A chorus of rustling leaves and gentle sways broke the forest's silence, their vibrant orange and yellow hues signaling the onset of autumn. The rhythmic beating of wings suddenly pierced the air as a butterfly swerved erratically over the forest floor, narrowly missing a grazing deer. Upon its departure, a mournful howl echoed through the trees—the lament of a wolf, its sorrowful cry lingering in the air.

A lioness navigated its rocky terrain in a nearby mountain range, her strong limbs propelling her with feline grace. She clutched a meager meat bundle, her prize for her waiting mate, whose rugged form stood guard at the summit. In a nearby cave, a bat clung precariously to the roof, its wings silhouetted against the dim light. The once bustling colony of bats now lay silent and motionless, their lives ended by the last bat remaining. Standing alone and inconspicuous, a lizard rested on a lone rock, its gaze fixed upon the expansive sky, contemplating the mystery of life.

On a fateful day, as a dark and brooding sky loomed overhead, a humble human stumbled upon a secluded cave, his trusty cane reverberating with each steady thump against the rough stone floor. The human's gaze fell upon the ghastly scene before him—hundreds of lifeless bats lay scattered across the ground, their wings cruelly crumpled and shattered. A single bat clung to the rocky ceiling in the cave's shadows, feasting grotesquely on its fallen kin.

As the human contemplated the spectacle, he shook his head in disbelief, locking eyes with the lone bat. With a subtle wink, the man cast a chilling spell, transforming the bat into a vampire and forcing it to plummet violently to the floor. The newly created vampire gazed up at the man in confusion and asked what had happened and who he was. The man replied with a cryptic response, declaring himself to be the God of Destiny before turning to leave.

The human approached a flower in bloom, its petals yellow and white, glistening with dewdrops. As his hand reached out to pick it, a butterfly alighted on the flower, its wings gently fanning its petals. To the human's surprise, the flower began to wither, its colors draining black before his eyes. Undeterred, the man knelt beside the flower and allowed the butterfly to rest on his palm. With a mischievous wink and a warm smile, he transformed the butterfly into a radiant fairy.

Stunned and bewildered, the tiny fairy fluttered in confusion before the human, her delicate wings beating furiously as she urgently demanded to know who he was and what had happened. The man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with cryptic wisdom, and responded by introducing himself as the God of Destiny. The fairy hovered in mid-air, her petite hands clenched in defiant uncertainty, regarding the man with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Before she could voice her myriad questions, he softly returned her to the wilted flower and then turned to leave.

A wolf slumbered peacefully in its den, basking in the warm sunlight filtering through the entrance. The cave's interior was adorned with flowers placed within the hollow skulls of long-dead deer, and furs and animal bones blanketed the ground, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. The wolf, weighed down by guilt from its recent hunt, moped about and sought solace in sleep. The tranquil atmosphere was interrupted by a gentle tap on the floor, rousing the wolf from its slumber to see a man standing over it.

The man's attire was striking in its vibrancy—a red suit with harmonious accents of green and yellow, a captivating contrast against the otherwise dark surroundings. The man's demeanor was gracious and benevolent as he shook his head lightly and winked, casting a spell that transformed the wolf before him into a powerful werewolf. Its once scruffy gray fur gave way to a pale complexion with a tan undertone, but the iconic ears and tail remained. Confused, the werewolf looked up to question the man's identity and purpose, but all he received in response was the man referring to himself as the God of Destiny.

Perched upon a solitary rock, the unassuming lizard raised its head, its small forked tongue flicking in and out as it gazed at the infinite sky that stretched above it. A single, consuming thought occupied its mind—the burning desire to take wing and soar freely through the boundless expanse, unburdened by the confines of the earth. Suddenly, a sharp snap of a twig broke the creature's reverie, jolting it back to reality. Glancing up, the lizard was met with the sight of a man, his smile visible even in the forest's shadows.

The man approached, shaking his head lightly and winking as he touched the startled lizard. Instantly, a magical transformation took place. The once small reptile swelled in size to become a magnificent dragon. Its scales glittered in the sunlight, displaying a mesmerizing blend of green and yellow. Dumbfounded, the newly formed dragon looked upon the man with wide eyes, seeking answers to the questions swirling in its mind. Yet, all the man offered in response was a cryptic declaration of his identity as the God of Destiny.

The lioness crept through the tall grass, her tawny fur gleaming in the sunlight, her powerful muscles rippling beneath her sleek form. Her ears flicked as she caught the sound of something approaching, her amber eyes intently scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, she halted, locking her gaze with a lone human standing amongst the foliage. As the man shook his head lightly and winked, the lioness found herself transformed into a majestic Mernunda. Her smooth, light-brown skin now adorned her body, thin whiskers protruding from her cheeks, and her feline ears and tail retained the same captivating hue as her former fur.

Confused, the Mernunda looked up at the man with wide, bewildered eyes, seeking clarification about her newfound form and identity. However, all the man provided was a cryptic response, claiming to be the God of Destiny, before turning away and leaving the transformed creature to grapple with her new reality.

Having fashioned an array of beings from various creatures, the God paused, contemplating the thought of having allies, beings just as powerful as himself. A sense of determination filled his steps as he summoned the bewildered creatures to a clearing, the tall trees around them gently swaying and the sky above them painted in beautiful hues of orange and gold. With a self-satisfied chuckle, he unveiled his true identity – the former Human Qugias and the God of Destiny.

He regaled them with tales of his chaotic and unpredictable nature, explaining how the previous God of Destiny created him to perpetuate her legacy of randomness and surprise. However, he confessed that he required their assistance to fully embrace his role and maintain the tumultuous equilibrium that was his purpose. Thus, he sought the creatures' aid, allowing them to share his power and enigmatic destiny.

Following the initial outburst of anger, shouting, and tears, a decision was reached and implemented without delay. The freshly minted vampire was christened as Kimtar, the bloodthirsty God of war and battle. Qegias imparted upon him that his destiny was to sow discord and strife among mortal beings, reveling in the chaos and disarray that would undoubtedly follow his rule.

The former butterfly was bestowed with the name Dina, the embodiment of misfortune. Known for her downtrodden and melancholy disposition, anyone crossing her path was destined to encounter an array of calamities and ill fortune. Qegias divulged that her creation made the lives of mortals arduous and challenging, sowing seeds of adversity and despair wherever she treads.

As the former wolf, Belst was dubbed the God of Life & Death, embodying a dual nature of kindness and cruelty. A sudden mood shift could transform him from a gentle soul into a fearsome beast. Qegias told him his purpose was to take life and bring it back, weaving a delicate balance between both powers. Belst learned that he was the first Canthro and werewolf to exist in this world.

Next, the former lizard was named Andister, the God of Destruction, and was marked by an unsavory demeanor. Qegias revealed that it would bring about panic and devastation, which appalled Andister.

Lastly, the former lioness was christened Hiraeth, the goddess of Love and Loyalty. Her benevolent and caring nature was to be her trademark, and mortals would seek her blessings for their unions. Qegias divulged that Hiraeth had been created to offer hope to those in need, a beacon of light in the darkest times.

With the final words spoken, Qegias left, vanishing from sight. Many centuries later, millennia even, he chanced upon a mortal engrossed in the game The Ethereal Realm, leaving untold consequences and possibilities to unravel in both worlds.